ArrayManager Application

The main purpose of the ArrayManager application is to enter information about ArrayBlocks.
It is also used to view informormation about ArraySlides, and which ArraySlides have been scanned.

Background

Schema of ArrayBlocks,ArraySlides, & Scans

ArrayBlocks Tab

ArrayBlocks Table

Before the ArrayBuilder application can be used to design an Array, the ArrayBlock must be entered here. ArrayBlocks are manually entered by the user here. This is the only place where ArrayBlocks are entered and/or modified in TMAJ.

IsFinal

After an ArrayBlock has been designed, it is a good idea to check the IsFinal checkBox to prevent anyone from changing the ArrayBlock design in the future.

ArrayBlock Dimensions

Users must know the name of the Array, the numberOfRows, and the numberOfColumns. It is important that the fields NumberOfRows and NumberOfColumns never be given a smaller value. Here's why: Lets say a user puts in a value for (row=15, column=11) in ArrayBuilder. Next, someone changes the ArrayBlock to dimensions (NumberOfRows=5, NumberOfColumns=5). This means that every column and row after 5 is just cut-off, and floating in the database. However, it is acceptable to make the dimensions larger.

ArrayBlocks Tab

ArraySlides Tab

ArraySlides Table

Unlike the ArrayBlocks tab, it is possible that an administrator will never have to use the ArraySlides tab. This is because in the import application, new ArraySlides are automatically added to this table. (See [[import application]] for more details.) The ArraySlides tab is used mostly for adding arraySlides that have not been imported into TMAJ, or for adding more details to existing ArraySlides. (The import application only puts in the minimal information for an ArraySlide, that is the ArrayBlockID, Z, and the Stain.) Z represents the cut-number of the ArraySlide. The first time an ArraySlide is cut, z=1, the second time z=2, and so on. All ArraySlides are eventually stained with an antibody (or H&E); otherwise the tissue would be clear and impossible to view with a microscope.

ArraySlides tab

Scans Tab

Scans Table

This tab is rarely used to enter information, since records are added to this table automatically in the [[import application]]. The most common use of this application is determining whether or not an ArraySlide has been scanned, and if so, how many times. This is accomplished by simply searching for the ArraySlideID of the ArraySlide, and noting how many records come up. Most ArraySlides are only scanned once, but occasionly they may be scanned a second time if there was ap problem during the first scan, or the researcher wants to scan at a different resolution. ArraySlides forms a one-to-many relationship with Scans. In this application, we can see which ArraySlide was scanned by clicking the <<<ArraySlides button.

Scans Tab